Sensor Mounting Apparatus and Methods of Using Same

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to allow a one-handed operation of mounting a vibration sensor to a mounting pad adhered to a machine. An attachment screw includes a recessed socket with a detent to releasably retain a ball-end hex driver such that the driver can remain coupled to the attachment screw without force being applied by the user. Also, a handheld device includes a driver having a handle portion and a driver shaft extending therefrom, the driver shaft having a driver portion at a distal end, and a vibration sensor support configured to support the vibration sensor such that the driver portion has access to an attachment screw threaded through the vibration sensor, and coupled to the driver such that the vibration sensor support is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the driver shaft and slidable along a longitudinal portion of the driver shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present general inventive concept relates to an apparatus, system,and method of mounting a sensor on a mounting pad, and, moreparticularly, an apparatus, system, and method by which a user canmount/dismount a triaxial sensor to/from a machine with a one-handedoperation.

BACKGROUND

Predictive Maintenance, or PdM, programs in industrial plants arefrequently implemented by assigning a technician to use portableinstrumentation, such as a vibration analyzer, an ultrasonic gun, and/oran IR camera, along a predetermined route to collect data related to theoperation of the equipment on this route. This information, in turn, maythen be used to diagnose problems or potential problems associated withthe health and/or operation of the equipment.

For example, a PdM program may include a technician carrying a vibrationanalyzer to each machine located along a defined route. Upon reaching aparticular machine to be analyzed, a vibration sensor, such as anaccelerometer, is physically coupled to the machine at one or moremeasurement locations. Frequently, the data to be acquired at eachmeasurement location is specified as part of the route instructions. Thevibration sensor and analyzer then receive vibration data from themeasurement locations, and may output this information on a display ofthe analyzer.

There are a number of options for coupling vibration sensors to themachinery, and a variety of sensor configurations which have beenemployed. Two factors which have a significant impact on the sensor andmounting method selected are the speed and ease of mounting and theresulting frequency response of the mounted vibration sensor.Accelerometers are the most often used vibration sensors because theyare affordable and relatively easy to handle when mounting and removingthem from machines. It is common for these sensors to be calibrated tohave a flat frequency response from 0 to 10 kHz. This wide frequencyresponse is quite acceptable for machine measurements; however, it isgenerally only achieved when significant attention is given to itsmounting method. It is widely recognized that stud mounting the sensorto a flat machined surface provides the best results, approaching thatwhich is used during the calibration procedure. However this is hard toachieve in an industrial environment in which a portable sensor is beingused to monitor all types of machine designs. It may be desirable for asingle operator to collect data from 50 or more machines in one 8-hourshift, due to the desire to reduce the cost of data collection byreducing the man-hours required. The cost of the data collection laborwill greatly exceed the investment made in the PdM analyzers andsoftware over time. One solution to gain speed is to hand-hold thesensor against the machine or to mount the accelerometer using a magnetthat is stud-mounted to the sensor housing. These methods are quick;however, they often result in lowering the flat sensitivity region toless than 1 kHz. This frequency response can be improved by usingmounting pads that are fixed to a flat surface on the machine housing,such as with a special epoxy. These pads provide an additional benefitin that they insure that the data is collected from exactly the sameposition on the machine on every monitoring cycle regardless of who iscollecting the data. Rare earth magnets attached to the accelerometersand placed on the pad may increase the flat frequency response achievedto 2-4 kHz. Stud mounting the sensor to these pads can result in a flatfrequency region which is close to that achieved during calibration.

Single axis and triaxial accelerometers have become popular choices forportable PdM applications. Single axis accelerometers have the broadestuse because of their smaller size, lower cost, and ease of use withmagnetic mounting options, and because many early instruments could onlycollect a single channel of data. The triaxial accelerometer has alsobecome popular since the advent of multi-channel data collectioninstruments because it allows 3 channels of data to be collected at onetime. It is often desirable to collect data in three spatial axes (x, y,and z directions) at each bearing housing on the machine. To accomplishthis with a single axis sensor, the operator must position the sensor ateach of the three orientations and make a measurement. Clearly, thisincreases the data collection time three-fold, which is not desirable.However, the use of triaxial accelerometers dictates the use of mountingpads in order to get repeatable data collected. It is not desirable forthe operator to have to remember how the sensor should be oriented ateach location, or to experiment with its placement to try and repeat theorientation used in the previous application. To insure repeatablepositioning of a triaxial accelerometer, the sensors and the mountingpads are manufactured with mating alignment structures. The most commonpractice followed by the manufacturers of triaxial accelerometers is touse a center mounting scree and a cylindrical alignment pin built intothe mating surface of the sensor and positioned to be aligned with theaxis of one of the three internal sensors. This alignment peg can beused to mate with a hole or notch in the mounting pad to guaranteerepeatable positioning of the sensor on repeated applications.

This option of using triaxial accelerometers and mounting pads with acenter thread hold and an alignment notch is a long standing practice ofmore than ten years. The sensors are typically gripped in one hand andaligned to the block, while the other hand of the user holds a balldriver to thread the mounting screw into the center hole of the pad.There has been virtually no change in the mechanical design for mountingthe sensor to these pads for more than a decade.

As previously discussed, the vibration sensor is typically coupled to amounting pad that has been previously fixed to the machine that is to beanalyzed, and the operator, or user, mounts the vibration sensor to themounting pad to begin the analysis. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventionaltriaxial accelerometer and mounting pad used in such a vibrationmeasurement. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mounting pad 101 is fixed toan outer surface of a machine 102 such as would be found in a factory.As several different types of machines, appliances, etc., may bemonitored in a vibration measurement, for convenience of illustration,only a surface portion of the machine 102 upon which the mounting pad101 is fixed is illustrated in this drawing. Also, the mounting pad 101may be fixed at several different locations on the machine 102, such ason a side, top, or bottom surface.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mounting pad 101 is provided with an alignmentrecess 103 to aid in the proper orientation of the triaxialaccelerometer, referred to generically herein as a vibration sensor 104.As indicated in FIG. 101, the vibration sensor 104 is designed such thatmovement in each of the X, Y, and Z axes is measured, the properorientation of the vibration sensor 104 is achieved through mounting thevibration sensor 104 such that an alignment pin 105 of the vibrationsensor 104 is received in the alignment recess 103 of the mounting pad101. Thus, the mounting pad 101 is previously fixed to the machine 102with the alignment recess 103 at the proper position to receive thealignment pin 105 at the proper orientation. The vibration sensor 104 istypically provided with a data cable 110 to transmit the sensedvibration data to a data acquisition unit (not illustrated).

Upon aligning the vibration sensor 104 according to the proper placementof the alignment pin 105 in the alignment recess 103, an attachmentscrew 106 is used to fix the vibration sensor 104 to the mounting pad101. The attachment screw 106 is passed through a threaded through hole107 of the vibration sensor 104 into a threaded receiving aperture 108of the mounting pad 108. The attachment screw 106 typically has a hexsocket 109 so that the attachment screw 106 may be driven by a hex keyor driver. The attachment screw 106 is driven, with the threads of theattachment screw moving along the threaded receiving aperture 108, untilthe head of the attachment screw 106 is flush against the outer surfaceof the vibration sensor 104, at which point the vibration sensor 104 isfixed in position.

The conventional method of mounting the vibration sensor 104 on amounting pad 101 typically requires a user to employ both hands toperform the sensor mounting operation. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventionalmethod of mounting the vibration sensor 104 onto the mounting pad 101.As illustrated in FIG. 2, the user holds the vibration sensor 104 in onehand, both to move the vibration sensor 104 into the proper orientationaccording to the alignment pin 105 being received in the alignmentrecess 103, and also to hold the vibration sensor 104 in position whilethe attachment screw 106 is driven by a driver 201 held in the user'sother hand. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the driver 201 typically isprovided with a hex key 202 on a driving end thereof. Even if the useradvances the attachment screw 106 far enough through the threadedthrough hole 107 such that the end of the attachment screw 106 extendsout of the surface of the vibration sensor 104 which faces the machine102, so that threading of the attachment screw 106 into the receivingaperture 108 may be started before the proper orientation of thevibration sensor 104, both hands of the user are still required so thatboth the vibration sensor 104 and the driver 201 can both be held toperform such an operation.

As previously discussed, the mounting pad 101 may be provided on variousdifferent surfaces of the machine 102, including the underside, recessedportions, etc., that are very difficult for a user to reach with bothhands to perform the simultaneous holding of the proper orientation ofthe vibration sensor 104 and the driving of the attachment screw 106.Also, even in a situation in which access to the mounting pad 101 isrelatively easy, it is an inconvenience for the user to have to use bothhands to perform the mounting operation, as one hand could be otherwiseused to operate a data collecting device, cellular phone, etc.

As discussed above, for a variety of reasons, there is a desire for amounting mechanism to improve the safety and speed of this approach. Oneconcern is that the operator typically has an instrument that usuallyneeds to be controlled while the operator is attaching the sensor tolocations which are often not convenient. Additionally, the machinesurface may be hot or coated with undesirable chemicals. Placing one'shands within ½ inch of the machine housing, possibly near to movingparts, is not desirable from a safety perspective. The sensor or balldriver can also represent a hazard if dropped or made to contact movingparts of the machine. Thus, there is a desire to improve the method ofattaching a triaxial sensor to an indexed mounting pad using a one-handoperation that is faster and safer than those currently available.

Another consideration in improving the speed of mounting is dependent onhow the sensor and attachment tool are carried when moving from onemeasurement location to the next, on the same or a different machine.The operator is often moving about in rather restrictive areas in whichboth hands are needed to prevent potential accidents, which isproblematic when the operator is carrying the sensor and mountingequipment. Also, the vibration sensor is a delicate and expensivecomponent, and the vibration sensor may be in jeopardy of being damageddue to inadvertent contact with various hard surfaces on the way tobeing mounted, or due to being dropped by the user during the operation.Therefore, a device that would provide support and protection for thevibration sensor during the mounting process would be of value.

The improvement in operator safety is always of upmost importance in anyindustrial operation. The significance of increasing the speed and easeof mounting a sensor to the machine may not be appreciated unless it isrealized that an operator may perform this operation literally hundredsof times during a typical measurement survey. The cumbersome nature ofmounting triaxial accelerometers has been one of the factors which hasslowed their adoption by industry even though their use offers manyadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a device to allow aone-hand operation of mounting a vibration sensor to a sensor mountfixed to a machine. In order to improve efficiency, it is possible forthe mounting tool to stay engaged with the vibration sensor when thevibration sensor is not mounted. In various example embodiments themounting tool engages the sensor in such a manner that the vibrationsensor is held firmly by the mounting tool during mounting as well aswhen the components are holstered between measurement locations. Such aone-hand operation is available when a mounting tool is able to stayengaged with the vibration sensor during the mounting operation, as wellas during movements between mounting operations.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the present general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may be achieved by an attachment screw to secure avibration sensor to a mounting pad, the vibration sensor having athrough hole to receive the attachment screw and an alignment pinextending to be accommodated in an alignment recess of the mounting pad,the attachment screw including a head portion having a recessed socketsufficiently deep to receive a ball-end hex driver such that a hexcavity adjacent to the ball-end hex driver is received within therecessed socket, a detent provided on a side wall of the recessed socketto apply a force to the hex cavity such that the hex key is releasablyretained in the recessed socket, and a cylindrical shaft extending fromthe head portion, the shaft having a threaded section provided betweenfirst and second unthreaded sections, the first and second unthreadedsections having a diameter smaller than the threaded section, and thesecond unthreaded section being distal to the head portion andconfigured such that at least a portion thereof extends further than thealignment pin when the attachment screw is in the through hole and thehead portion contacts the vibration sensor.

The first unthreaded section may be configured to extend past a threadedportion of the through hole while the attachment screw is in the throughhole and the head portion contacts the vibration sensor.

The attachment screw may further include a resilient member to bias thedetent toward a radial center of the recessed socket.

The attachment screw may further include a recess in the head portion,the detent being provided in the recess.

The recess may have a tapered opening to allow the detent to partiallyextend into the recessed socket.

The resilient member may be an elastic band provided around the headportion.

The attachment screw may further include a groove around a perimeter ofthe head portion to receive the elastic band.

The elastic band may be a polyurethane ring.

The threaded section may be configured so as to extend a shorterdistance from the vibration sensor than does the alignment pin when theattachment screw is in the through hole and the head portion contactsthe vibration sensor.

The threaded section may be configured so as to extend farther from thevibration sensor than does the alignment pin when the attachment screwis in the through hole and the head portion contacts the vibrationsensor.

The attachment screw may further include a frictional element providedto at least a portion of the attachment screw to provide frictionbetween the attachment screw and the vibration sensor to aid inorientation of the vibration sensor during a mounting operation.

The frictional element may be provided to at least a portion of thefirst unthreaded section of the attachment screw.

The frictional element may be a polymer coating.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by a handheld device to secure avibration sensor to a mounting pad, the vibration sensor having analignment pin extending to be accommodated in an alignment recess of themounting pad, the device including a driver having a handle portion anda driver shaft extending therefrom, the driver shaft having a driverportion at a distal end, and a vibration sensor support configured tosupport the vibration sensor such that the driver portion has access toan attachment screw threaded through the vibration sensor, and coupledto the driver such that the vibration sensor support is rotatable arounda longitudinal axis of the driver shaft and slidable along alongitudinal portion of the driver shaft.

The vibration sensor support may include a helmet to receive thevibration sensor, the helmet including a helmet floor to contact a backsurface of the vibration sensor, a helmet side portion to support atleast a portion of the perimeter surface of the vibration sensor, and ahelmet recess in the helmet floor to accommodate the attachment screw.

The helmet recess may extend to the helmet side portion to accommodate adata cable of the vibration sensor.

The vibration sensor support may further include first and secondconnector plates spaced away from the helmet by a plurality of connectorpins, the first and second connector plates configured to receive thedriver shaft through respective central openings thereof, the centralopenings being sized such that the first and second connector plates arerotatable about the driver shaft and slidable along the longitudinalportion of the driver shaft.

The device may further include a stopper member provided to the drivershaft between the first and second connector plates to maintain acentral portion of the driver shaft between the first and secondconnector plates.

The device may further include a resilient member between the stoppermember and the first or second connector plate to bias the driver in thedirection of the helmet.

The resilient member may be a spring through which at least a portion ofthe driver shaft passes.

The driver may be biased toward the vibration sensor support.

The device may further include one or more spacers between the handleportion and the vibration sensor support to allow rotation withoutcontact between the handle portion and the vibration sensor support.

The one or more spacers may be one or more washers provided about thedriver shaft.

The device may further include a recess provided to corresponding outerportions of the first and second connector plates to accommodate a datacable of the vibration sensor.

The device may further include at least one pair of corresponding griprecesses respectively provided to the first and second connector plates.

The device may further include an illuminating device coupled to thevibration sensor support.

The device may further include an accommodating portion in the vibrationsensor support in which the illuminating device is removably coupled.

The illuminating device may be removably coupled to the vibration sensorsupport by at least one securing strap.

The at least one securing strap may be an elastic strap.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by a system to store and/ortransport a sensor mounting device supporting a vibration sensor, thesystem including a handheld device to secure a vibration sensor to amounting pad, the device including a driver having a handle portion anda driver shaft extending therefrom, the driver shaft having a driverportion at a distal end, and a vibration sensor support configured tosupport the vibration sensor such that the driver portion has access toan attachment screw threaded through the vibration sensor, and coupledto the driver such that the vibration sensor support is rotatable arounda longitudinal axis of the driver shaft and slidable along alongitudinal portion of the driver shaft, and a carrier to accommodatethe handheld device while the handheld device supports the vibrationsensor.

The system may further include a belt coupled to the carrier.

The carrier may enclose a substantial portion of the vibration sensorsupport.

Other features and aspects may be apparent from the following detaileddescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following example embodiments are representative of exampletechniques and structures designed to carry out the objects of thepresent general inventive concept, but the present general inventiveconcept is not limited to these example embodiments. In the accompanyingdrawings and illustrations, the sizes and relative sizes, shapes, andqualities of lines, entities, and regions may be exaggerated forclarity. A wide variety of additional embodiments will be more readilyunderstood and appreciated through the following detailed description ofthe example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional triaxial accelerometer and mountingpad used in a vibration measurement;

FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional method of mounting the vibrationsensor onto the mounting pad;

FIGS. 3A-3H illustrate example embodiments of an attachment screw thatis used to secure a vibration sensor to a mounting pad according to thepresent general inventive concept, as well as a conventional attachmentscrew for comparison;

FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed view of a head portion of theattachment screw illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D and 3F-3H, according to anexample embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a vibration sensor mounting operationusing an attachment screw according to an example embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of another vibration sensor mountingoperation using the attachment screw of FIGS. 3F-H;

FIG. 7 illustrates a one-hand operable sensor mounting device accordingto an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the sensor mounting device 701 ofFIG. 7, according to an example embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 9 illustrates the sensor mounting device of FIG. 7 being used in avibration sensor mounting operation;

FIG. 10 illustrates a one-hand operable sensor mounting device accordingto another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept;and

FIG. 11 illustrates a carrier for an assembled vibration sensor andsensor mounting device according to example embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to various example embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodimentsdescribed herein are presented in order to explain the present generalinventive concept by referring to the figures.

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader ingaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses,and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes,modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/orsystems described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill inthe art. The described progression of processing operations describedare merely examples, however, and the sequence of operations is notlimited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in theart, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certainorder. Also, description of well-known functions and constructions maybe omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

FIGS. 3A-3H illustrate example embodiments of an attachment screw thatis used to secure a vibration sensor 104 to a mounting pad 101 accordingto the present general inventive concept, as well as a conventionalattachment screw for comparison. Although a triaxial accelerometer isillustrated in these drawings, the accelerometer is referred to as avibration sensor, as a variety of vibration sensors may be incorporatedin various embodiments of the present general inventive concept. Asillustrated in FIG. 3A, the attachment screw 301 includes a head portion302 having a recessed socket 303 to receive a hex key of a hex driver201, a first unthreaded section 304 extending from the head portion 302,a threaded section 305 extending from the first unthreaded section 304,and a second unthreaded section 306 extending from the threaded section305. A detent 307 is provided at a side of the recessed socket 303 at alocation to correspond to a hex cavity 310 of a ball-end hex key 312. Aresilient member 308 biases the detent 307 inwardly toward the radialcenter of the recessed socket 303.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, when the attachment screw 301 according tothis example embodiment of the present general inventive concept ismoved fully through the through hole 107 such that the head portion 302is in contact with a surface of the vibration sensor 104, the firstunthreaded section 301 is configured so as to extend at least partiallyout of the threaded portion 320 of the through hole 107 and into theunthreaded portion 322 of the through hole 107. The second unthreadedsection 306, which extends from the distal end of the threaded section305 of the attachment screw 301, is configured to extend further fromthe mounting side of the vibration sensor 104, i.e., the side of thevibration sensor that faces the mounting pad 101, than does thealignment pin 105, and acts as a pilot to assist in the guidance of theattachment screw 301 into the receiving aperture 108 of the mounting pad101. Also, the threaded section 305 of the attachment screw 301 isconfigured such that the distal end of the threaded section 305 does notextend as far from the mounting side of the vibration sensor 104 as thealignment pin 105. In other words, the threaded section 305 of theattachment screw 301 is not able to reach the mounting pad 101 beforethe alignment pin 105 contacts the mounting pad 101 at an area otherthan the alignment recess 103. With such a configuration, the distal endof the alignment pin 105 extends further than the threaded section 305of the attachment screw, and is able to mate with the alignment recess103 before any threads of the threaded section 305 are engaged with thereceiving aperture 108. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, both the pilotsection, i.e. second unthreaded section 306, of the attachment screw 301and the alignment pin 105 are able to be engaged respectively with thereceiving aperture 108 and alignment recess 103 of the mounting pad 101before the threads of the threaded section 305 of the attachment screw301 are engaged with the receiving aperture 108 of the mounting pad 101.

As also illustrated in FIG. 3B, the detent 307 is positioned so as to beaccommodated by the hex cavity 310 of the ball-end hex key 312. Theforce provided by the biased detent 307 acts to retain the ball-end hexkey 312 inside the recessed socket 303. The detent 307 is biased to theextent that an assembly of the attachment screw 301 and the vibrationsensor 104 can be retained on the ball-end hex key 312 without the userhaving to hold the attachment screw 301 or vibration sensor 104. Thiswas heretofore quite challenging given the weight of the vibrationsensor. Similarly, the detent 307 is biased to the extent that aconventional ball-end hex driver can be retained in place in therecessed socket 303 even when a user removes his/her hand from thedriver 201, but is easily removed when the user applies force in adirection to extract the driver 201 from the attachment screw 301. Theresilient member 308 which biases the detent 307 may be, for example anelastic band that is provided around an outer diameter of the headportion 302. An example embodiment of the detent 307 and resilientmember 308 will be discussed in more detail in the description of FIG.4.

As described above, the force applied to the hex cavity 310 of thedriver 201 by the biased detent 307 allows the detent 307 to releasablyretain the driver 201 such that the user may release his/her grip of thevibration sensor 104 and simply use the one hand that is gripping thedriver 201 to hold and support all of the driver 201, attachment screw301, and vibration sensor 104. The vibration sensor 104 is retained onthe attachment screw 301 due to the threaded portion 320 of the throughhole 107 being located between the head portion 302 and the threadedsection 305 of the attachment screw 301, and the attachment screw 301 isretained on the ball-end hex key 312 by the biased detent 307. As such,the user can use one hand to both guide the vibration sensor 104 to themounting pad 101, and turn the driver 201 to secure the vibration sensor104 to the mounting pad 101. Also, although not illustrated, theattachment screw 301 may be provided with a frictional element whichwill provide enough friction to turn the unsecured vibration sensor 104via the ball-end hex key 312 for proper alignment with the mounting pad,but not so much friction as to impede the turning of the attachmentscrew 301 once the alignment pin 105 is located in the alignment recess103. In other words, a frictional element, such as, for example, apolymer coating, could be provided to at least a portion of theattachment screw 103 to provide a limited grip of the vibration sensor104 by the attachment screw 103. In various example embodiments, such africtional element may be provided only along a portion of the firstunthreaded section 304, which is configured to have the most contactwith the vibration sensor 104 when the attachment screw 301 ispositioned inside the vibration sensor 104.

FIG. 3D illustrates the vibration sensor 104 mounted securely on themounting pad 101. As illustrated in the drawing, the face of thevibration sensor 104 is in contact with the mounting pad 101, thealignment pin 105 is received in the alignment recess 103, and theattachment screw 301 has been driven such that the head portion 302 isin contact with the back of the vibration sensor 104. Upon securing thevibration sensor 104 upon the mounting pad 101 as shown in the drawing,the user is able to remove the driver 201 by simply applying force toovercome the force applied to the hex cavity 310 through the detent 307.

FIG. 3E illustrates a vibration sensor 104 that is coupled using aconventional attachment screw 350. As illustrated in FIG. 3, theconventional attachment screw 350 has no pilot section to assist inguiding the conventional attachment screw 250 to the receiving aperture108 of the mounting pad 101, which increases the inconvenience of theoperator. Also, the threaded section 360 of the conventional attachmentscrew 350 extends approximately the same distance from the mountingsurface of the vibration sensor 104 as does the alignment pin 105, whichmay cause the sensor to twist away from the mounting pad 101 in anundesirable fashion if a one-hand operation is attempted.

Another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept isillustrated in FIG. 3F, in which the threaded section 305′ is configuredto extend farther from the mounting side of the vibration sensor 104than the alignment pin 105. As illustrated in FIG. 3F, when theattachment screw 301 according to this example embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept is moved fully through the through hole 107such that the head portion 302 is in contact with a surface of thevibration sensor 104, the first unthreaded section 301 is configured soas to extend at least partially out of the threaded portion 320 of thethrough hole 107 and into the unthreaded portion 322 of the through hole107. Also, the threaded section 305′ of the attachment screw 301 isconfigured such that the distal end of the threaded section 305′ extendsfurther from the mounting side of the vibration sensor 104 than thealignment pin 105. In other words, the threaded section 305′ of theattachment screw 301 is able to reach the mounting pad 101 before thealignment pin 105 contacts the mounting pad 101. As with the exampleembodiment described in FIGS. 3A-D, the second unthreaded section 306,which extends from the distal end of the threaded section 305′ of theattachment screw 301, acts as a pilot to assist in the guidance of theattachment screw 301 into the receiving aperture 108 of the mounting pad101.

As illustrated in FIG. 3G, once the threaded section 305′ of theattachment screw 301 has been driven through the threaded portion 320 ofthe vibration sensor 104, the first unthreaded section 304 of theattachment screw 301 is located inside the threaded portion 320 of thevibration sensor 104. As a result, the vibration sensor 104 is able torotate freely around the attachment screw 301. Also, the vibrationsensor 104 has limited lateral and longitudinal movement relative to theattachment screw 301 which allows a multi-directional floating action toassist in the mounting of the vibration sensor 104 on the mounting pad101. In some situations, the user will be afforded enough sufficientroom for movement and visible area that the user can, with one handholding the driver 201 to which the assembly of the attachment screw 301and vibration sensor 104 are releasably retained, guide the alignmentpin 105 of the vibration sensor 104 directly to the alignment recess 103of the mounting pad 101, and then simply rotate the driver 201 to drivethe attachment screw 301 until the vibration sensor 104 is fixed to themounting pad 101. However, in a situation in which mobility and/or sightmay be limited, the user is able to hold the driver 201, to which theassembly of the attachment screw 301 and vibration sensor 104 arereleasably retained, and guide the attachment screw 301 to the receivingaperture 108 and drive the attachment screw 301 just enough to holdattachment screw 301 in place while the user removes his/her hand fromthe driver 201 and rotates the vibration sensor 104 until the alignmentpin 105 is aligned with the alignment recess 103 of the mounting pad101. In such a situation, the second unthreaded section 306, due tobeing of smaller diameter than the threaded receiving aperture 108 ofthe mounting pad 101, is able to be used as a pilot assist the user inguiding the attachment screw 301 into receiving aperture 108. Also,because the second unthreaded section 306 has the limited floatingaction discussed above relative to the vibration sensor 104, the secondunthreaded section 306 is able to be guided into the receiving aperture108, and the attachment screw 301 is able to be driven enough to engagethe threaded section 305′ with the threaded receiving aperture 108, evenwhen the alignment pin 105 is abutted against a portion of the mountingpad 101 other than the alignment recess 103. Such a situation isillustrated in FIG. 3G, which shows the attachment screw 301 engagingthe threaded receiving aperture 108 of the mounting pad 101 while thevibration sensor 104 is misaligned in a rotational sense. After aportion of the threaded section 305′ is engaged with the threadedreceiving aperture 108, as shown in FIG. 3G, the user is able to removehis/her hand from the driver to rotate the vibration sensor 104 untilthe alignment pin 105 is aligned with the alignment recess 103 of themounting pad 101. The engagement of the driver 201 with the attachmentscrew 301 is maintained by the interaction of the detent 307 with thehex cavity 310 of the ball-end hex key 312 while the user is rotatingthe vibration sensor 104 to the proper alignment.

FIG. 3H illustrates the vibration sensor 104 of FIG. 3G mounted securelyon the mounting pad 101. As shown in the drawing, the face of thevibration sensor 104 is in contact with the mounting pad 101, thealignment pin 105 is received in the alignment recess 103, and theattachment screw 301 has been driven such that the head portion 302 isin contact with the back of the vibration sensor 104. Upon securing thevibration sensor 104 upon the mounting pad 101 as shown in the drawing,the user is able to remove the driver 201 by simply applying force toovercome the force applied to the hex cavity 310 through the detent 307.

While the data cable 110 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is not illustratedin FIGS. 3A-3D, as well as various other drawings described herein, itis understood that the various example embodiments discussed in regardto these drawings may be used with vibration sensors 104 that includesuch a data cable 110, vibration sensors 104 that transmit vibrationdata wirelessly, or other such configurations. Therefore, variousdrawings may include vibration sensors 104 with or without the datacable 110, but the present general inventive concept is not limited tothe presence or lack of the data cable 110.

FIG. 4 illustrates a more detailed view of the head portion 302 of theattachment screw 301 illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D and 3F-3H, according toan example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. In theexample embodiment of FIG. 4, a recess is provided in an outer wall ofthe head portion 302 of the attachment screw 301 to accommodate thedetent 307. The detent 307 of this example embodiment has the shape of around ball, and the diameter of the recess 401 is slightly larger thanthe diameter of the detent 307 so as to facilitate movement of thedetent 307 in a radial motion relative to the recessed socket 303, butalso limit movement of the detent 307 that is substantially orthogonalto the radial motion. It is understood that this configuration is simplyan example, and other shapes and configurations of the detent 307 andrecess 401 may be used. Also, various other types of detents andcorresponding biasing elements, other than those described in relationto this example embodiment, may be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the recess 401 includes a first opening 402 atthe outer diameter of the head portion 302, and a corresponding secondopening 403 at a surface of the recessed socket 303. The second opening403 is tapered to support the detent 307 such that only a portion of thedetent 307 is able to extend through the second opening 403. The portionof the detent 307 which extends through the second opening 403 providesforce to the hex cavity 310 of a ball-end hex key 312 when such a driver201 is engaged with the attachment screw 301. The resilient member 308biases the detent 307 so as to provide a force in the direction of thehex cavity 310, and allows limited movement in the opposite direction.In this example embodiment, the resilient member 308 is an elastic bandthat is provided around the head portion 302. The head portion 302 isconfigured to have a groove 404 which receives the elastic band, orresilient member 308, and the recess 401 passes through the groove 404such that the resilient member 308 is located above and in contact withthe detent 307. In various example embodiments, a polyurethane o-ring isused as the resilient member 308. It is understood that the elastic banddescribed above is merely one example of a resilient member 308 whichprovides bias and support to the detent 307. For example, variousexample embodiments of the present general inventive concept may have arecess that does not have a first opening 402 in the outer diameter ofthe head portion 302, but rather have an entirely contained resilientmember 308 inside the recess above the detent 307.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a vibration sensor mounting operationusing an attachment screw 301 according to an example embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a user isable to guide the vibration sensor 104 to the mounting pad 101 usingonly one hand, due to the assembly of the vibration sensor 104 andattachment screw 301 being releasably retained on the ball-end hex key312 of the driver 201. Once the threaded section 305 of the attachmentscrew 301 is engaged with the threaded receiving aperture 108 of themounting pad 101, the user can simply continue to rotate the driver tosecure the vibration sensor 104 to the mounting pad 101. Since thedetent 307 is being biased toward the hex cavity 310, and therefore theball-end hex key 312 is being releasably retained inside the hex cavity310, the user is able to remove his/her hand to assist in the drivingmotion. After the vibration sensor 104 has been secured to the mountingpad 101, the user may simply apply force by pulling the driver away fromthe vibration sensor 104, and the pulling force will overcome theretaining force transferred by the detent 307 such that the driver 201will be release.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of another vibration sensor mountingoperation using the attachment screw 301 having the threaded section305′ illustrated in FIGS. 3F-H. In this example, the user hasencountered a situation that inhibits being able to guide the alignmentpin 105 of the vibration sensor 104 directly to the alignment recess 103of the mounting pad 101, and therefore has simply used the secondthreaded section 306 of the attachment screw 301 to pilot the threadedsection 305′ into the threaded receiving aperture 108 of the mountingpad 101, resulting in an alignment similar to that illustrated in FIG.3G. Therefore, as the driver 201 is releasably retained by theattachment screw 301, the user is able to release the grip of the driver201 and use that hand to rotate the vibration sensor 104 to the properorientation according to the alignment pin 105 and alignment recess 103.After such alignment, the user is able to move the one hand back to thedriver 201 and continue the mounting operation.

Various example embodiments of the present general inventive conceptdiscussed in the descriptions of FIGS. 3A-6 provide an apparatus withwhich a user may conveniently mount a vibration sensor using only onehand. In some environments, extra support and protection may be achievedby providing a sensor support to the driver itself, the sensor supportproviding protection to at least partial surfaces of the vibrationsensor, and providing more ways to rotate the vibration sensor to theproper orientation. Various sensor mounting devices incorporating such asensor support according to examples of the present general inventiveconcept are discussed in the descriptions of FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 7 illustrates a one-hand operable sensor mounting device accordingto an example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Thesensor mounting device 701 includes a sensor support 710 that is coupledto a driver 702 to support and protect the vibration sensor 104 during amounting of the vibration sensor 104 onto the mounting pad 101. Thecoupling of the sensor support 710 to the driver 702 allows the sensorsupport 710 to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the driver 702,and also allows the sensor support 710 to move back and forth along alimited distance in the longitudinal direction of the driver 702. Thesensor support 710 is configured to receive the vibration sensor 104 ata distal end thereof, to hold and protect at least portions of thesurface area of the vibration sensor 104, while the user guides thevibration sensor 104 to the mounting pad 101. Once the vibration sensor104 has reached the mounting pad 101, the user can rotate the sensorsupport 101 until the alignment pin 105 of the vibration sensor 104 isreceived in the alignment recess 103 of the mounting pad 101, using thesame hand that is gripping the driver 702. The attachment screw 106 canbe engaged with the threaded receiving aperture 108 of the mounting pad101 before the aligning of the alignment pin 105, or the alignmentoperation can be carried out before any threading of the attachmentscrew 106, since the driver 702 is able to move in a longitudinaldirection relative to the sensor support 710, and thus supportslongitudinal movement of the attachment screw 106 relative to thevibration sensor 106. Also, though not illustrated in these drawings,the driver 702 could be provided with a motorized driving mechanism toaid the user in the driving of the attachment screw 301. Such amotorized driving mechanism could be integrated with the sensor support701, and may allow such a motorized operation with a touch of a buttonalso integrated with the sensor support 701.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the sensor mounting device 701 ofFIG. 7, according to an example embodiment of the present generalinventive concept. It is understood that the various elements andconfiguration of these elements illustrated in these drawings are merelyexamples of elements that may be included in the sensor mounting device.Inclusion of various additional elements, omission of variousillustrated elements, and/or substitution of the illustrated elementsmay be envisioned by those skilled in the art in other various exampleembodiments of the present general inventive concept. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 8, the driver 702 includes a handle 803 coupled to adriver shaft 804 extending from the handle 803. The driver shaft 804 mayhave a hex key 805 at a distal end thereof to enter the recessed socket303 of the attachment screw 301. The hex key 805 may be the ball-end hexkey 312 described in regard to FIGS. 3A-3D, but other type of hex key,as well as other types of driver types in general, may be provided tothe driver. Also, while the description of the various exampleembodiments of FIGS. 7-9 may describe the inclusion of the previouslydescribed attachment screw 301 to fix the sensor 104 to the mounting pad101, it is understood that other attachment screws may also be used withthe sensor mounting device 701. In other words, it is not necessary thatan attachment screw with the configuration and elements described inFIGS. 3A-3D be used with a vibration sensor 104 mounted by the sensormounting device 701.

The sensor support includes a helmet 811 configured to receive thevibration sensor 104. The helmet 811 includes a helmet floor 815 whichis contacted by the vibration sensor 104 when the vibration sensor 104is accommodated in the helmet 811. A side portion of the helmet 811extends from the helmet floor 815 to provide lateral support for thevibration sensor, as well as protection from contact with various otherobjects during the mounting process. While the helmet 811 of thisexample is illustrated as having a side portion 816 that substantiallysurrounds the peripheral edge of the vibration sensor 104, other variousexample embodiments may cover/contact more or less of the surface areaof the vibration sensor 104. For example, discontinuous side portionsmay extend from the helmet floor 815 at three or more points to providethe support and protection for the vibration sensor 104.

The helmet 811 of this example embodiment includes a helmet recess 817to accommodate the attachment screw 301 provided to the vibration sensor104 and the data cable 110 of the vibration sensor 104 in the event thatsuch a data cable 110 is present. In other words, in this exampleembodiment, the helmet recess 817 is provided in portions of the helmetfloor 815 and the side portion 816. With the configuration of the helmetrecess 817 illustrated in FIG. 8, it is apparent that the vibrationsensor 104 may be securely supported in the helmet 811 whether the datacable 110 is present or not.

The sensor support 710 of this example embodiment includes fourconnector pins 812 coupled to the helmet 811 so as to extend from asurface opposite to the helmet floor 815. The connector pins 812 may becoupled to the helmet 811 by a variety of different methods, such as byan adhesive, welding, etc. The ends of the connector pins 812 oppositeto the ends coupled to the helmet 811 are coupled to a first connectorplate 818. Again, the connector pins 812 may be coupled to the firstconnector plate 818 by a variety of different methods. In the exampleembodiment of FIG. 8, the connector pins 812 are fixed to the firstconnector plate 818 by a plurality of respective screws 814 that passthrough corresponding holes in the first connector plate 818 and intoends of the connector pins 812. A second connector plate 819, throughwhich the connector pins 812 pass via through holes, is fixed to theconnector pins 812 between the helmet 811 and the first connector plate818. The configuration of the helmet 811, connector pins 812, firstconnector plate 818, and second connector plate 819 provide the basicstructure of the sensor support 710.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the first and secondconnector plates 818,819 are provided with cable recess 820 toaccommodate the data cable 110 which extends from the vibration sensor104. The cable recess 820 corresponds to the helmet recess 817 of sensorsupport 710, which also accommodates the data cable 110 in situations inwhich the data cable 110 is present. It is understood that vibrationssensors that do not employ such a data cable are still suitablysupported and protected by the sensor mounting device 701.

As previously discussed, the sensor support 710 is rotatable about thelongitudinal axis of the driver 702 so that the alignment pin 105 of thevibration sensor 104 may be aligned with the alignment recess 103 of themounting pad 101. The user may use one or more fingers to perform such arotation while maintaining a grip on the handle 803. To aid in such anoperation, the first and second connector plates 818,819 may be providedwith protrusions or recesses to make the rotating of the sensor support710 more convenient to the user. In the example embodiment illustratedin FIG. 8, first grip recesses 821 are provided in correspondinglocations on the first and second connector plates 818,819, and secondgrip recesses 822 are provided at other corresponding locations on thefirst and second connector plates 818,819. The user is able to place afinger along these grip recesses to make the rotation operation moreconvenient.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the coupling of thesensor support 710 and the driver 702 is maintained by a stopper member808 that is provided on the driver shaft 840. The driver shaft 840extends through openings in the first and second connector plates818,819 to a point that enables the hex key 805 to be in position toengage the attachment screw 301 provided to the vibration sensor 104.The stopper member 808 is provided on the driver shaft at a pointbetween the first and second connector plates 818,819 and thus maintainsthe presence of the driver shaft 804 extended through the first andsecond connector plates 818,819. In various example embodiments, thestopper member 808 may be a clamp fixed to the driver shaft 804.However, the stopper member 808 may take various other forms that willmaintain the presence of the driver shaft between the first and secondconnector plates 818,819.

The openings in the first and second connector plates 818,819 throughwhich the driver shaft 804 extends are configured such that the drivershaft 804 is able to both rotate and move back and forth. In variousexample embodiments, the driver 701 may be biased in the direction ofthe sensor support 710. With such a bias, the driver 702 is able to bemoved back to accommodate an initial position of the head of theattachment screw 301, but is biased forward to maintain contact with theattachment screw 301. The driver 701 may be biased by a resilientmember, such as the spring 806 illustrated in FIG. 8. The spring 806 inthis example embodiment is provided between the first connector plate818 and the stopper member 808, and works in conjunction with thestopper member 808 both to bias the driver 702 and maintain the drivershaft 804 within the sensor support 710.

In various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept,one or more spacers may be provided on the driver shaft 804 between thehandle 803 and the first connector plate 818 to facilitate the rotationof the driver 702 relative to the sensor support 710. In the exampleembodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, a pair of washers 807 is provided asthe spacers. The washers 807 both facilitate the rotation of the driver702 and reduce wear that would otherwise be caused between the surfacesof the handle 803 and the first connector plate 818.

FIG. 9 illustrates the sensor mounting device 701 of FIG. 7 being usedin a vibration sensor mounting operation. While the mounting pad 101 isillustrated, the machine 102 to which the mounting pad 101 is fixed hasbeen omitted for clarity. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG.9, the vibration sensor 104 is seated inside the helmet 811 in contactwith the helmet floor 815, and the data cable 110 is accommodated by thecable recess 820. The sensor support 710 has been rotated to properlyorient the vibration sensor 104 in relation to the alignment pin 105 andthe alignment recess 103, and the driver 702 is rotated to fix thevibrations sensor 104 to the mounting pad 101 with the attachment screw301.

FIG. 10 illustrates a one-hand operable sensor mounting device accordingto another example embodiment of the present general inventive concept.In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the sensor mountingdevice 701 of FIG. 7 is provided with an illuminating device 1010 to aidthe operator in conditions in which low lighting and/or limited accessmakes it difficult for the operator to see the mounting pad 101. Theilluminating device 1010 may be, for example, an incandescentflashlight, an LED, or the like. In the example embodiment illustratedin FIG. 10, the illuminating device 1010 is accommodated by the secondgrip recesses 822 illustrated in FIG. 8, and secured to the sensormounting device 701 by a securing strap 1020. The securing strap 1020may be, for example, an elastic band provided around one or more of theconnector pins 812 and the illuminating device 1010. However, it isunderstood that the illuminating device 1010 may be fixed to the sensormounting device 701 in any of a number of different locations, as wellas by means other than the securing strap 1020. For example, theilluminating device may be fixed to other structural components of thesensor mounting device, and may be fixed by an adhesive, Velcro, and soon.

As previously discussed, another aspect of improving the speed ofmounting a vibration sensor the manner in which the vibration sensor andattachment tool are carried when moving from one measurement location tothe next on the same or a different machine. Since the operator is oftenmoving about in restrictive areas in which both hands may be needed toprevent potential accidents, such transport can be facilitated by acarrier, such as a holster, to receive both the vibration sensor and theattachment tool in such a manner that they remain attached to oneanother and are inserted or withdrawn as a single unit. In other words,the attachment tool and vibration sensor may remain coupled to oneanother at all stages of transport, and the operator may choose to onlyseparate the attachment tool from the vibration sensor when thevibration sensor is coupled to the mounting pad of the machine. Thus,after removing the vibration sensor from the mounting pad, the operatorcan simply place the assembly of the attachment tool, i.e., the sensormounting device, and the vibration sensor into the carrier, and withdrawthe assembly when ready to install the vibration sensor at the nextlocation.

FIG. 11 illustrates a carrier for an assembled vibration sensor andsensor mounting device according to example embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG.11, the carrier 1110 is configured to accommodate the assembly of thesensor mounting device 701 coupled to the vibration sensor 104. As shownin the drawing, the data cable 110 extending from the vibration sensor,which may be attached to vibration sensors that do not transmit datawirelessly, is also easily accommodated inside the carrier 1110. In thisexample embodiment, the carrier 1110 is a holster that is attached to abelt 1120. The operator is able to conveniently wear the belt 1120having the holster, or carrier 1110, provided thereto, and can simplydraw the vibration sensor/sensor mounting device assembly with one handso as to mount the vibration sensor 104 on the mounting pad 101.Similarly, the operator is able to conveniently place the vibrationsensor/sensor mounting device assembly back in the carrier 1110 afterremoving the vibration sensor 104 from the mounting pad 101. In such amanner, using the system of the sensor mounting device 701 and thecarrier 1110, the operator is able to perform the mounting anddismounting procedure, as well as travel from one destination to thenext, without having to use a second hand.

In various example embodiments described above, and apparatus has beenprovided to allow a user to mount a vibration sensor onto a mounting padwith a one-handed operation. In some example embodiments, an attachmentscrew is configured to releasably retain a ball-head hex key of a driverso that the user can release the grip of the driver or vibration sensorwhile maintaining a coupling of the driver to the attachment screw,which is further coupled to the vibration sensor. In other exampleembodiments, a sensor mounting device includes a sensor support coupledto a driver, the sensor support holding and protecting the vibrationsensor and allowing the user to guide and orient the vibration sensoronto the mounting pad while maintaining a grip on the driver. Whilevarious example embodiments have described the alignment pin andalignment recess used in triaxial sensors, the present general inventiveconcept is also applicable to vibration sensors which do not have suchalignment devices, such as single axis sensors. The benefits of thepresent general inventive concept would increase the convenience of studmounting such single axis and other sensors, which provides improvedresults over magnetically mounted sensors.

It is noted that the simplified diagrams and drawings do not illustrateall the various connections and assemblies of the various components,however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement suchconnections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components,figures, and descriptions provided herein, using sound engineeringjudgment.

Numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments arepossible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, andembodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope ofthe present general inventive concept. For example, the alignment pincould be located on the mounting pad, and the corresponding alignmentrecess built into the sensor, in which case various examples of thepresent general inventive concept would provide the pilot section of theattachment screw to extend farther from the vibration sensor thanalignment pin extended from the mounting pad. Although such aconfiguration is not discussed in detail in the examples previouslydescribed, such example embodiments would fall within the scope of thepresent general inventive concept. Regardless of the content of anyportion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary,there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of anyapplication claiming priority hereto of any particular described orillustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of suchactivities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements.Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed bymultiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated.

While the present general inventive concept has been illustrated bydescription of several example embodiments, it is not the intention ofthe applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the inventiveconcept to such descriptions and illustrations. Instead, thedescriptions, drawings, and claims herein are to be regarded asillustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and additionalembodiments will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon readingthe above description and drawings.

1. An attachment screw to secure a vibration sensor to a mounting pad,the vibration sensor having a through hole to receive the attachmentscrew and an alignment pin extending to be accommodated in an alignmentrecess of the mounting pad, the attachment screw comprising: a headportion having a recessed socket sufficiently deep to receive a ball-endhex driver such that a hex cavity adjacent to the ball-end hex driver isreceived within the recessed socket; a detent provided on a side wall ofthe recessed socket to apply a force to the hex cavity such that the hexkey is releasably retained in the recessed socket; and a cylindricalshaft extending from the head portion, the shaft having a threadedsection provided between first and second unthreaded sections, the firstand second unthreaded sections having a diameter smaller than thethreaded section, and the second unthreaded section being distal to thehead portion and configured such that at least a portion thereof extendsfurther than the alignment pin when the attachment screw is in thethrough hole and the head portion contacts the vibration sensor.
 2. Theattachment screw of claim 1, wherein the first unthreaded section isconfigured to extend past a threaded portion of the through hole whilethe attachment screw is in the through hole and the head portioncontacts the vibration sensor.
 3. The attachment screw of claim 1,further comprising a resilient member to bias the detent toward a radialcenter of the recessed socket.
 4. The attachment screw of claim 3,further comprising a recess in the head portion, the detent beingprovided in the recess.
 5. The attachment screw of claim 4, wherein therecess comprises a tapered opening to allow the detent to partiallyextend into the recessed socket.
 6. The attachment screw of claim 3,wherein the resilient member is an elastic band provided around the headportion.
 7. The attachment screw of claim 6, further comprising a groovearound a perimeter of the head portion to receive the elastic band. 8.The attachment screw of claim 6, wherein the elastic band is apolyurethane ring.
 9. The attachment screw of claim 1, wherein thethreaded section is configured so as to extend a shorter distance fromthe vibration sensor than does the alignment pin when the attachmentscrew is in the through hole and the head portion contacts the vibrationsensor.
 10. The attachment screw of claim 1, wherein the threadedsection is configured so as to extend farther from the vibration sensorthan does the alignment pin when the attachment screw is in the throughhole and the head portion contacts the vibration sensor.
 11. Theattachment screw of claim 1, further comprising a frictional elementprovided to at least a portion of the attachment screw to providefriction between the attachment screw and the vibration sensor to aid inorientation of the vibration sensor during a mounting operation.
 12. Theattachment screw of claim 11, wherein the frictional element is providedto at least a portion of the first unthreaded section of the attachmentscrew.
 13. The attachment screw of claim 11, wherein the frictionalelement is a polymer coating.
 14. A handheld device to secure avibration sensor to a mounting pad, the vibration sensor having analignment pin extending to be accommodated in an alignment recess of themounting pad, the device comprising: a driver having a handle portionand a driver shaft extending therefrom, the driver shaft having a driverportion at a distal end; and a vibration sensor support configured tosupport the vibration sensor such that the driver portion has access toan attachment screw threaded through the vibration sensor, and coupledto the driver such that the vibration sensor support is rotatable arounda longitudinal axis of the driver shaft and slidable along alongitudinal portion of the driver shaft.
 15. The device of claim 14,wherein the vibration sensor support comprises a helmet to receive thevibration sensor, the helmet including a helmet floor to contact a backsurface of the vibration sensor, a helmet side portion to support atleast a portion of the perimeter surface of the vibration sensor, and ahelmet recess in the helmet floor to accommodate the attachment screw.16. The device of claim 15, wherein the helmet recess extends to thehelmet side portion to accommodate a data cable of the vibration sensor.17. The device of claim 15, wherein the vibration sensor support furthercomprises first and second connector plates spaced away from the helmetby a plurality of connector pins, the first and second connector platesconfigured to receive the driver shaft through respective centralopenings thereof, the central openings being sized such that the firstand second connector plates are rotatable about the driver shaft andslidable along the longitudinal portion of the driver shaft.
 18. Thedevice of claim 17, further comprising a stopper member provided to thedriver shaft between the first and second connector plates to maintain acentral portion of the driver shaft between the first and secondconnector plates.
 19. The device of claim 18, further comprising aresilient member between the stopper member and the first or secondconnector plate to bias the driver in the direction of the helmet. 20.The device of claim 19, wherein the resilient member is a spring throughwhich at least a portion of the driver shaft passes.
 21. The device ofclaim 14, wherein the driver is biased toward the vibration sensorsupport.
 22. The device of claim 17, further comprising one or morespacers between the handle portion and the vibration sensor support toallow rotation without contact between the handle portion and thevibration sensor support.
 23. The device of claim 22, wherein the one ormore spacers are one or more washers provided about the driver shaft.24. The device of claim 17, further comprising a recess provided tocorresponding outer portions of the first and second connector plates toaccommodate a data cable of the vibration sensor.
 25. The device ofclaim 24, further comprising at least one pair of corresponding griprecesses respectively provided to the first and second connector plates.26. The device of claim 14, further comprising an illuminating devicecoupled to the vibration sensor support.
 27. The device of claim 26,further comprising an accommodating portion in the vibration sensorsupport in which the illuminating device is removably coupled.
 28. Thedevice of claim 27, wherein the illuminating device is removably coupledto the vibration sensor support by at least one securing strap.
 29. Thedevice of claim 28, wherein the at least one securing strap is anelastic strap.
 30. A system to store and/or transport a sensor mountingdevice supporting a vibration sensor, the system comprising: a handhelddevice to secure a vibration sensor to a mounting pad, the devicecomprising: a driver having a handle portion and a driver shaftextending therefrom, the driver shaft having a driver portion at adistal end, and a vibration sensor support configured to support thevibration sensor such that the driver portion has access to anattachment screw threaded through the vibration sensor, and coupled tothe driver such that the vibration sensor support is rotatable around alongitudinal axis of the driver shaft and slidable along a longitudinalportion of the driver shaft; and a carrier to accommodate the handhelddevice while the handheld device supports the vibration sensor.
 31. Thesystem of claim 30, further comprising a belt coupled to the carrier.32. The system of claim 30, wherein the carrier encloses a substantialportion of the vibration sensor support.